HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, is partnering with Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) to invite community members to an “Earn While You Learn Workshop” on how to start a new, high-paying career in the trades as a union journeyman. The event is being held Sept. 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is being hosted by the Rescue Our Children Organization (R.O.C.O.) at 4 N. Bartlett Rd. in Streamwood.

“High-paying jobs are available in the trades, without the need for a degree or the debt that too often comes with it,” Crespo said. “These are high skill, in-demand positions in industries and specialties that everyone in our society depends on. I hope you’ll take the opportunity to join us at this exciting session.”

CISCO bills the event as an opportunity to “discover how to earn $100k+ with no education debt.” Those interested are encouraged to RSVP online at https://bit.ly/3TBmXvg or by calling or texting 630-644-3611.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, is spreading the word after the Illinois State Police (ISP) announced the second round of Firearm Enforcement Grants to local law enforcement organizations throughout the state. The police department in Schaumburg, parts of which Crespo represents, received $19,588 from ISP, after also applying for and receiving funding in the first round of grants.

“Protecting the public from criminal behavior means holding everyone accountable to the same legal standard,” Crespo said. “When an individual is prohibited from possessing a firearm, there is usually a very good reason for that determination. When that person does not surrender their firearms, that’s very concerning and it’s important that we are proactive in addressing that situation. That’s why I’m so enthusiastic about boosting these grants—there may be further rounds of these grants and I think it’s so important that every police department takes advantage of these opportunities.”

The grants are awarded to law enforcement organizations to enable them to conduct stepped up enforcement operations against individuals who have failed to surrender their firearms or FOID card after becoming subject to a Firearm Restraining Order, Clear and Present Danger determination or a felony conviction. These individuals are required to surrender their firearms and FOID card under state law. In the case of a restraining order or danger designation, the firearms are returned when the order or designation is lifted. A person convicted of a forcible felony loses their right to obtain a FOID card and to possess firearms until a minimum of 20 years have passed since the completion of their sentence.

“Local police departments are our community’s first line of defense when it comes to protecting residents from violent crime, and ensuring they have the resources they need in order to prevent crime is crucial,” Crespo said. “These grants are a big step in a positive direction and it’s my hope that increased enforcement will keep firearms out of the hands of those who are at risk of using them to do harm.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Nursing staff at licensed Illinois hospitals must now be proactively informed of their legal rights under an important worker and patient protection law after legislation passed by state Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, became law last week.

“For too long, and increasingly throughout the pandemic, we saw that some for-profit hospitals were cutting corners by implementing insufficient and unsafe staffing levels and staff-patient ratios, especially when it came to nursing staff, in order to reduce costs. That’s why we passed legislation to give concerned nurses the power to hold hospitals and administrators accountable,” Crespo said. “But a workplace law is only effective if people are aware of it and of what it does. We took action this year because we were seeing that too many nursing staff didn’t know about the law.”

The Nurse Staffing Improvement Act was passed and became law in 2021. It requires that there be a way for nurses to report variations from established staffing plans and a process to review and address such reports; and prohibits retaliation against nurses who make reports. It also authorizes the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to enforce compliance—including by requiring hospitals to submit a corrective action plan, imposing fines of up to $1,000 and by publicly disclosing violations.

Crespo passed House Bill 3890 this year, which requires licensed hospitals to proactively notify their nursing staff of the Nurse Staffing Improvement Act and its provisions and provide a phone number and an email where nurses can report violations of the Act. The new notification requirements will also be enforced by IDPH. Crespo’s bill was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on June 30 and went into effect immediately.

“Safe and sufficient staffing levels are not only important for ensuring that hospitals are safe and that every patient is getting the high-quality care they deserve, but they are also important for the safety and wellbeing of Illinois dedicated and indispensable nurses and other hospital staff,” Crespo said. “That’s why we’re making sure that no hospital can skirt the law by keeping its staff in the dark. Illinois’ nurses go above and beyond every single day to take care of us, so it’s important that we take care of them in return.”

“After a long, public process led by one of our own, Leader Lisa Hernandez, the Illinois House Latino Caucus applauds the historic congressional map passed by both chambers tonight. A product of notable collaboration, we are pleased this map will include a second district of significant Latino representation. This would be the first time in Illinois’ history that the Latino community can influence two congressional districts. If signed into law, this map will only add to Illinois’ reputation as being a model for the nation when it comes to minority representation.”

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – To ensure that child victims of sexual assault or abuse are protected during the investigation process, state Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, led the effort to establish the right for children to have their forensic interview conducted by interviewers from an accredited children’s advocacy center.

“After experiencing a traumatic event like sexual assault or abuse, it is vital that forensic interviewers use a trauma-informed, child focused approach to not traumatize the child,” said Crespo. “Staff and personnel at Children Advocacy Centers are certified and trained to interview child victims in a developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive ways to appropriately obtain information regarding the investigation.”

House Bill 3462 gives every child that is a victim of sexual assault or abuse the right to have their forensic interview conducted by an interviewer from an accredited children’s advocacy center serving the child’s jurisdiction. This law solidifies the right of children to have a trauma-informed interviewer from an advocacy center lead their interview and establishes that investigating agencies must provide this option when possible. With the expertise of an interviewer from an advocacy center, children are less likely to go through multiple interviews and will avoid having to recall traumatic details of the event more than once.

“Before children’s advocacy centers, children who experienced sexual abuse and other extreme trauma often had to tell their story multiple times to multiple people. Forensic interviews are conducted using techniques that are developmentally appropriate for children and are designed to be non-leading, non-judgmental, and non-traumatizing,” said Char Rivette, the Executive Director of Chicago Children’s Advocacy Centers. “They are key pieces of evidence that law enforcement and DCFS can use to make arrests, create safety plans, protect children, and ensure offenders are held accountable, and in a CAC’s trauma-informed, child-friendly environment they generally happen only once. I’m proud that with the passage of HB 3462, every child will have access to this incredible tool for healing and justice. It’s a victory for everyone who cares about child welfare in Illinois.”

There are 40 Children’s Advocacy Centers in Illinois that have served over 14,000 kids and their families in this past year. Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois coordinates and provides comprehensive response to child abuse in Illinois, specializing in the most child-friendly approaches in investigation and treatment of child abuse. Crespo served on the Children’s Advocacy Center of North & Northwest Cook County.

“Child victims of abuse have the right to be heard and the passage of HB 3462 ensures that right for all children in Illinois. The passage of this law ensures that all children have access to the best possible response to allegations of child abuse which includes well-trained, trauma informed, professional investigators and treatment providers.  Child abuse investigations coordinated through the CAC make a difference.   They are more effective in holding offenders accountable, they are cost efficient, and most importantly; kids who are seen at a CAC are four times more likely to receive vital mental health, medical and follow up services than those that don’t,” said Kim Mangiaracino, the Executive Director of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois. “The passage of this law is a huge win for them and us as Illinoisans.  Thank you to all that supported this key piece of legislation.”

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, is working with Legal Aid Chicago to host a free, virtual expungement clinic on Monday, April 12 at 10 a.m. on Facebook Live for local residents looking to clear their record.

“Petitioning for expungement can be a difficult process, and we need to make sure that local residents have access to the resources needed to do so,” said Crespo. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with Legal Aid Chicago to help bring these resources to members of our community, and I am hopeful that this clinic will benefit those who are looking to clear their records.”

Crespo’s virtual clinic will offer free advice for individuals looking to expunge or seal records in Cook County. Residents are invited to ask questions to expert panelists from Legal Aid Chicago and learn more about the petitioning process. The event will be held virtually, and individuals can live stream and participate by visiting Facebook.com/StateRepCrespo.

“We know from experience that the most effective way to help someone repair the devastating impacts of a criminal record is to advocate for them every step of the way,” said Regina Hernandez of Legal Aid Chicago. “We want to connect community members to Legal Aid Chicago, where they will receive an individualized assessment of their criminal record, and as long as there is some option for relief, will be provided with full representation in achieving that goal at no cost.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to decreased utilization of health care services through managed care organizations (MCO’s) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, state House Assistant Majority Leader Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, and state Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, filed legislation today to claw back excess profits and reallocate funding to critical health care services.

“While safety net and critical care providers are struggling to remain open and serve their communities, MCO’s are continuing to receive over a billion dollars in state and federal funding each month,” said Crespo. “Residents across Illinois are making significant sacrifices in order to protect themselves and their communities, and we’ve even seen the auto insurance and cable television industries return unused money to consumers. It is unacceptable that MCO’s are profiting off of taxpayer dollars that aren’t being used. Clawing back some of the funding that MCO’s have received throughout the pandemic and reallocating those dollars to health care providers in low-income and rural communities could help hospitals remain open amid ongoing financial instability that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.”

Hospitals across the state are facing an unprecedented decline in outpatient procedures and elective surgeries as a result of the pandemic, contributing to severe financial strain on health care facilities that serve Illinois’ most vulnerable populations. Conversely, MCO’s in Illinois have benefitted from these declines, as capitated payments have continued despite decreased utilization of these health care services.

In response, Crespo and Koehler introduced House Bill 5867 and Senate Bill 4027, respectively, to claw back a portion of capitated payments made to MCO’s throughout the pandemic. From an estimated monthly payment of $1.7 billion, a 20 percent return would yield $340 million per month that can provide needed relief to hospitals and other health care facilities that have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 crisis, as well as behavioral health care and substance abuse programs. In addition, recouping these funds can provide relief to health care service providers that may be impacted by state budget deficits. The legislation would require the underutilized funds from MCO’s to be returned to Medicaid programs to ensure they are still able to be matched with federal dollars.

“While insurance companies and managed care organizations see record setting profits at the height of a global pandemic, rural communities across the state are experiencing unsustainable strain in their health care system due to lack of resources,” said Koehler. “The money recouped through this legislation would provide immediate relief for downstate hospitals that have been devastated by COVID-19.”

“Minority communities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and its devastating impact on their health and economic wellbeing,” said Jose Sanchez, President and CEO of Norwegian American Hospital in Chicago. “It’s only fair that the Medicaid managed care organizations provide desperately needed relief to our communities by sharing part of the record profits they have made during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

For more information on House Bill 5867, please contact Crespo’s office at 630-372-3340 or visit https://ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=5867&GAID=15&GA=101&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=127542&SessionID=108.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – After shocking revelations of sexual abuse and failures to provide protection and support for children in Chicago Public Schools, state Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, passed legislation and created a task force to address issues surrounding sexual abuse in schools. Following the release of the Make Sexual and Severe Physical Abuse Fully Extinct (Make S.A.F.E) Task Force final report, Crespo is planning to introduce legislation to adopt the task force’s recommendations.

“Ensuring a safe learning environment for our youth is critical to their wellbeing, and implementing a comprehensive approach to addressing issues surrounding the sexual abuse of students will help education stakeholders create safer school settings,” said Crespo. “This task force has helped us identify areas where we must address gaps in our laws, strengthen protections and provide better training for teachers and school staff to prevent abuse. It’s now time to put these proposals into action.”

The Make S.A.F.E. Task Force was focused on prevention, response and supports. Through 22 different recommendations, the 2020 final report calls for developing and implementing best practice guidelines, enhanced training for all school personnel, expanded resources and supports for students and increased funding for advocacy groups. One task force proposal would strengthen teacher background checks by creating a statewide tracking and database system that would identify those under pending investigation for child maltreatment in the event they try to transfer to another school district.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four girls and one in 13 boys will experience sexual abuse at some point in their childhood, with 91% of abuse being perpetrated by someone that the child knows. The Make S.A.F.E. Task Force was created in 2019 through legislation led by Crespo along with the Illinois State Board of Education, the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, teachers unions and other organizations in an effort to prevent instances of sexual abuse in schools.

“The recommendations made by the Make S.A.F.E Task Force, if enacted, will save thousands of children from the trauma of sexual and physical abuse for years to come,” said Char Rivette of Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center. “I was proud and honored to work with a phenomenal group of advocates for children around the state to put strong recommendations in place that will further protect children in our schools. Thank you Representative Crespo for your leadership in this effort!”

“This task force took on a very important mission to address sexual and physical abuse of children. Even when the pandemic interrupted their work, the two dozen members switched to virtual meetings and continued collaborating to create a toolkit that will help us move quickly and appropriately to support victims, protect students from abuse, and hold perpetrators accountable,” said Dr. Carmen I. Ayala, Illinois State Superintendent of Education. “Sexual abuse is one of the most harmful and heartbreaking tragedies that can happen to a child, yet it is also one of the most under-reported crimes in this country. This task force has put forth best practices that will guard our children and strengthen our communities.”

For more information on the Make S.A.F.E Task Force or to view the 2020 final report, please visit https://www.isbe.net/Pages/MakeSAFE.aspx. 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, is highlighting the announcement of funding for legal services in his district through the Illinois Access to Justice Program.

“The Access to Justice Program plays a critical role in ensuring access to legal counsel, education, employment opportunities and immigration services for communities disproportionately affected by incarceration, family separation and divestment,” said Crespo. “The unfortunate truth is that communities of color are constantly faced with violence and discrimination, but have limited access to the services they need to seek justice and prosperity. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to make sure that residents across Illinois can receive the vital resources that this program can help provide.”

The Access to Justice Program, administered by West Side Justice Center and The Resurrection Project, works with organizations across Illinois to provide legal services for immigration, reentry after incarceration and record expungement, as well as mentorship, education and other resources. Crespo spearheaded the program in 2019, and helped lay the legislative framework to provide funding.

This year, several organizations in the northwest suburbs will be receiving funds in an effort to build capacity for legal resources outside of Chicago. The organizations that were recently awarded grants include Administer Justice, Alianza Hispanoamericana, Centro de Información, Partners for Our Communities and Legal Aid Chicago operating out of Hanover Township.

“Finding these resources outside of Chicago is not easy, but the expansion of this program will help residents in our community and across Illinois receive the justice they deserve,” said Crespo. “I’m grateful for the work being done by our local community-based organizations, and thanks to the Access to Justice Program, they will have the ability to strengthen their infrastructure and expand their outreach and services for our most vulnerable populations.”